Vacuum therapy device



y 19 c. G. MILLER I 2,000,710

VACUUM THERAPY DEVICE Filed June 22, 1932 INVENTOR.

7 'AT ORNEY.

Patented May 7, 1935 VACUUM THERAPY DEVICE Carl G. Miller, New York, N. Y., assignor to Richard K. Parscll, Brooklyn,

Application June 22, 1932, Serial No. 618,716

3 Claims.

This inventionrelates to vacuum therapy devices. and to stimulating and massaging implements adapted for the local application of vacua in connection with beauty treatments, reducing 5 treatments and the like.

The vacuum therapy devices which have heretofore been used have employed exhausting ole-V vices connected to rigid or semi-rigid cups of metal, glass, porcelain, vulcanized rubber and the like, the cups being of SllffiClEl'li', strength and/or resiliency not to collapse under the applied vacuum. This invention is a radical departure from such devices and represents a distinct im.- provement thereon. i

It is a feature oivacuum therapy devices embodying this invention that they comprise a collapsible element which is in itself wholly unable to withstand anappliedvacuum but which may be manipulated-to create a vacuum. This collapsible element, for example, maybe in the form of a collapsible cup which'collapses under applied vacuum but which may be readily manipulated for the creation and maintenance therein of vacua as desired. The simplicity and utility of this feature of this invention as embodied in a collapsible cup, for example, for direct application of vacua to the flesh will be apparent. To illustrate, the cup may be provided with a flesh-contacting ring providing air-tight or semi-air tight contact with the flesh. Intermediate between the flesh-contacting rim and the bottom or base of the cup, the side wall is made collapsible and is; in efiect a collapsible bellows. While the collapsible side wall cannot withstand applied. vacua, nevertheless, by positively moving the base of the cup from collapsed position to extended position while maintaining the flesh-contacting rim in contact with the flesh, a vacuum can thus at once be effecti-velyand readily produced and regulated as desired by the user. 7

It is a further featureof this invention that the collapsible side wall or'bellows of the collapsible cup maybe substantially cone shaped so that the base of the cup may be brough -tun substantially flush with and within the rim-0t the cup when the cup. is; collapsed. It is also a feature of thisinvention that theside wall bellows may be strengthened by one or more rims of rigid or V semi-rigid material. and that when the. bellcwsais' cont-reshaped such intermediate strengthening.

ring or rings may be. intermediate in size: between thetcontacting rim and the base of the: cupt so that the whole cup, ofbell-shaped form when 1 extended, including the intermediate strengthenpreferably and. thevacuum may be'increased' (ii-diminished ing ring or rings, may be collapsed upon itself, bringing the contacting rim, intermediate ring or rings and base substantiallyfiushwith one other.

In novel collapsible vacuum cups embodying this invention, the bellows portion may comprise 5 alternate web-like flexible portions which are substantially non-resilient. These web-like portions may be alternately connected to strengtheningrings. In such construction, the collapsible cup is afforded extreme fiexib'ility and 10 is preferably made so as to collapse under its own weight.

Numerous advantages are afforded in the use of collapsible vacuuni'cups, for example, embodying this invention. "By contacting the cup when 15 in folded position with the fleshand withdrawing the base thereof away from theflesh so as to 1 extend the bellowsportion of the cup,'avacuunr can be produced and. maintained as long as the base While maintaining the base withdrawn, the cup may be moved around with appropriate massaging movements-to combine the advantages of mas'saging with the stimulatingefiects of a vacuum. v Moreover, by easy manipulation, the degree of extension of the bellows and the degree diva-sum maybe varied and regulated as desired. I, It is thus "seen that a cup comprising a collapsible bellows according to this invention erfords initself efii'cient and. convenient means io'r 30 producing a vacuum; However, stem. cup may not'only be used by itself in the application of vacuja but also may be used in 'conj'unctionwith a supplementary source of' vacuum such as a resilient bulb communicating with the interior of the collapsible cupby suitable opening. In such a device, the vacuum afforded by the bulb may be augmented by manipulation of theb'ellows of the collapsible cupJat tllewil'lflof the user as desi'redl I g ,7

It i s a further feature and advantage of this inventiorrthat, when the cup is collapsed, the flesh-contactingrim, cupbase, and any strengtheningring or rings thereof, due to the iactthat they lie flush with one 'another areall capabz fl' of contacting withtheflesh, thus attending-a plu rality "of pliable fleshecontactin'gsurfacesv and constituting- .a: desirable massaging implement, whichxcanv nevertheless be converted into a vac-*1 uum-producingdevice: merely by' extending the bellows. of the cup while maintaining; the fleshcontacting rim in. contact; with the flesh. .Moreovenlit an added advantage that the cup b'eing is maintained in withdrawn position/20 collapsible, may be compactly folded when not in use.

Further features and advantages of this intion will be apparent in connection with the following description of this invention which, with the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of a vacuum therapy device embodying this invention and comprising a collapsible cup in combination with a resilient bulb;

Fig. 2 is a front sectional view of the collapsible cup shown in Fig. 1 with the resilient bulb and tube connection removed, the cup being in extended position; 7

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the cup shown in collapsed position; and

Fig. 4 is a modification of this invention comprising a collapsible cup with a solid base or handle not adapted for connection with a resilient bulb or other source of vacuum. v

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a flesh-contacting rim i0 is shown which may be of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material and is preferably constructedof vulcanized rubber. Between th flesh-contacting rim [0 and the base or bottom II of the collapsible cup a side wall is provided which is collapsible and which is preferably in the form of a flexible bellows which is indicated generally by refrence character l2. The collapsible bellows l2 may be constructed in a number of different ways within the scope of this invention. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the collapsible bellows 12 comprises two web-like flexible sheets 13 which are preferably made of thin, flexible and substantially non-resilient rubber. It is preferable to strengthen the web-like sheets as shown in the drawing by one or more strength ening ring or rings [4, although it is apparent that the portion of the cup comprising base II, the single web l3 and the ring I4 constitutes an element of the cup which may be used alone or with theaddition of further web and ring elements. V v

The ring or rings l4 may be of the same shape and material as the contact rim Ill or may be of any other similar structure, form or material.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in the drawing, the outside diameter of the strengthening ring 14 is smaller than the inside diameter of the flesh-contacting rim Ill. Moreover, the outside diameter of base H is smaller than the inside diameter of the strengthening ring l4. With this structure, the cup is afforded complete collapsibility. The appearance of the cup when completely collapsed is shown in Fig. 3, and it is to be noted that the flesh-contacting rim l0, strengthening ring I 4 and base II have all been brought substantially flush with one another. Wherethe contact rim, intermediate ring and base are successively smaller, the bellows .will be cone-like in form.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in the drawing, the flesh-contacting rim I0 is made with a fiat lower flesh-contacting surface IS. The intermediate strengthening ring I4 is also provided with a flat lower surface 23. The cross section of the flesh-contacting rim I I] and ring [4 is in the form of a quarter circle, the curved portion thereof forming part of the exterior of the cup. The flexible web-like sheet I 3 is attached to flesh-contacting rim I0 adjacent the upper portion thereof, and is attached to intermediate ring [4 adjacent the lower portion, thereof.. This method of attaching the web-like sheet or sheets i3 is preferably employed throughout the bellows l2.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, an opening leis provided in the base H of the collapsible cup. In this modification of the invention, the base of the cup is preferably provided with a nipple it through which the opening l5 passes and to which a resilient bulb Il may be attached as by means of rubber tube l8.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Fig. 4, the structure is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 except that the base H of the collapsible cup is not provided with an opening therethrough, and with this exception the foregoing description relates thereto.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, as well as in the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the base ll of the collapsible cup is preferably made of such shape that it may be readily grasped by the user of the device.

The manner of using the above device is apparent. Referring to the modification shown in Fig. 4, the device may be used by applying the cup to the flesh while in collapsed or semi-collapsed position. While maintaining the fleshcontacting rim in contact with the flesh, the withdrawal of the base of the cup will create a vacuum which can be increased or diminished by extending or collapsing the bellows of the cup.

This may, of course, be done at the will and to suit the purpose of the user. The cup may be used for massaging in conjunction with the application of vacua by moving the cup about. If desired, the vacuum can be maintained during the massaging movements. It is an advantage of the structure shown in this invention, however, that massaging eifects can also be had when thecup is in collapsed position (without vacuum) and it is of advantage that, when the cup is collapsed as shown in Fig. 3, the base, flesh-contacting rim and intermediate strengthening ring or rings all fall flush with one another and present a series of pliable surfaces which madesirable massaging agents. The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may be used similarly. In this case, however, the vacuum created by the bellows action of the collapsible cup may be used in conjunction with the vacuum created by the resilient bulb to augment and control the same at the will of the user. Moreover, when the collapsible cup shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is detachably secured to the resilient bulb, the cup may be used similarly to the cup shown in Fig. 4 merely by placing the finger over opening l5 in nipple l6 so that a vacuum may be produced within the cup.

While this invention has been described in con nection with specific embodiments thereof, it is rative. In the embodiment of this invention that is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the cup portion of the device may be detachably secured to the resilient bulb. In such case two or more cups of diiferent shapes and which are adapted for application to different parts of the body may be made up and sold with a single resilient bulb and used by successively attaching same to the bulb. The intermediate strengthening rings may be omitted altogether or may be increased in number. Moreover, the collapsible bellows may be in the form shown or may be of any other folding character substantially impervious to air whereby vacua may be created or diminished by the extension or collapsing of the bellows and may be used in other association than the specific association shown. Moreover, a collapsible cup embodying this invention may be used in conjunction with other additional sources of vacuum than resilient bulbs, e. g., mechanical or liquid pumps and the like.

I claim:

1. A vacuum therapy device comprising a semirigid rubber flesh-contacting rim, a base, and a bellows between said rim and said base, said bellows including alternate substantially continuous sections of thin easily-flexible web-like sheet rubber on either side of a semi-rigid strengthening ring which ring is many times thicker than said sheet rubber, and said cup being bell-like in shape and collapsible upon itself so that said rim, said base and said strengthening ring become flush with one another when said cup is collapsed, the sheet rubber webs being foldable in appropriate folds between said rim, ring, and base.

2. In a vacuum therapy device, a collapsible cup comprising a flesh-contacting rim having a substantially flat bottom surface, an intermediate ring having a substantially fiat bottom surface, the external diameter of said intermediate ring being smaller than the internal: diameter of said flesh-contacting rim, a substantially non-resilient flexible web-like sheet between the upper part of said flesh-contacting rim and the lower part of said intermediate ring, a base having a flat inner surface and of lesser external diameter 7 ing rim at the rim of the cup, a base, and abellows portion including a flesh-contacting ring,

intermediate said rim and said base, said ring being smaller than said rim and adapted to telescope therewithin so that both said rim and said ring may lie against a common surface when said cup is collapsed and so that in extending said cup from collapsed condition by pulling said base away from said surface a vacuum will be applied first primarily within and at said ring and then within and at said rim and said bellows including easily flexible sheet rubber thinner than said ring and said rim and foldable in appropriate folds between adjacent thicker portions of said cup upon collapsing said cup.

CARL G. MILLER. 

